Cathryn E. Jackson

October 22, 1947 – April 15, 2024

"The greater the obstacle, the stronger the desire."

This quote next to Cathryn's senior photo in her high school yearbook captures the strength, purpose, determination she showed throughout her life – as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Cathryn Elizabeth Gause was born on October 22, 1947 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to Marvin and Sabrie (Neifert) Gause. The youngest of seven children, Cathryn quickly earned the nickname "Little Auntie" when she became an aunt at the tender age of five. To her chagrin, the name stuck.

The family moved to Selah, Washington, where Cathryn attended school from kindergarten through graduation. On the farm, she loved caring for her horse and using fabric scraps to make clothes for the barn cats. She didn't, however, love moving the sprinkler lines with her sister Sharon before dawn every day. In third grade, Cathryn's life changed forever when she became a Christian. She credited her Sunday school teacher for sparking her early faith in Jesus, which never wavered for the rest of her life.

After graduating from Selah High School in 1966, Cathryn attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho. Known for having strong opinions, she declared to her family over Christmas break that she would "never marry a redhead." But when she returned to school, she agreed to a date with Lyle Jackson, not realizing he was the redhead who sat behind her in economic geography class. Just six weeks later, they were engaged.

Lyle and Cathryn married on June 28, 1968, and settled in Idaho, living first in Nampa and Orofino and then in Glenns Ferry and Mountain Home. The couple had three children – Kevin, Brian, and Denise – before moving to Sunnyside, Washington in 1979. There, Cathryn began the career that she would love for the next 25 years, working at Grandview Nazarene Church as a secretary and office manager. She was devoted to her work, the staff, and the ministry of serving others. Countless people have shared how she prayed with them when they reached out to the church in a time of need.

In 2007, when Lyle and Cathryn moved to Kennewick, Washington, Cathryn discovered the joy of quilting, which combined her love of color and geometry with her creativity and keen eye for details. She joined the Tri-City Quilters Guild and especially enjoyed being part of the guild's modern quilting group.

Cathryn had many hobbies, from sewing and crocheting to cooking and traveling. But she was best known for her kindness and service to others. Cathryn selflessly gave to family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers. Her gifts were practical yet thoughtful and always impeccably crafted – like a hand-stitched blanket to celebrate a neighbor's baby, a loaf of freshly baked bread to cheer a sick friend, or a colorful quilt to comfort a child in foster care. She will be remembered as much for her unwavering kindness and compassion as she will be for her stubborn determination.

Cathryn is survived by her husband, Lyle, sons Kevin (LeAnne) Jackson of Richland, Washington, and Brian (Shigeko) Jackson of Pasco, Washington, daughter Denise (Dax) Wilson of Spokane, Washington, grandchildren Maggie (Kevin) Jepsen of Umatilla, Oregon, Heidi (Luke) Pascarelli of Nashville, Tennessee, Alexander Jackson of Richland, Washington, and Sabrie and Grant Culver of Spokane, Washington, as well as her sister JoAnn Wright of Roseville, California, brother Dave Gause of Zillah, Washington, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Cathryn's life will be held at Kennewick Nazarene Church on Saturday, May 18 at 1:00 p.m., with refreshments to follow. All are welcomed to attend.